BROWNE ON THE BALL: On my headache son! Boston United have the perfect weapons to book a play-off place

Zak Mills.

Published:11:04Thursday 21 April 2016

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If you want a headache, try to figure out who will claim fifth place in the National League North.

Scouring the league table, second guessing results and working out what exactly a game in hand means when the suspects up there still have to face one another is enough to make your brain want to explode.

I’ve got about as much chance of understanding a book on Kantian ethics and the deontological theories of the categorical imperative. Translated into Latin. By hand. A doctor’s hand.

If Nuneaton and Tamworth both win on Saturday then Boston drop to where? But three points for the Pilgrims means they’ll remain in what position? And if there’s a draw at the Jakemans Stadium while the Lambs win then where’s the best place for the excitement on the final day of the season?

Aaaarrrrgghhhh! Pass me the paracetamol, the throbbing’s coming back worse than ever.

Indeed, the race for the play-offs still has more possible conclusions than the final episode of Lost.

But for those players pulling on an amber shirt on Saturday, things are a lot more simple.

If they win their final two matches of the season then they’re guaranteed a top-five finish.

Three points against the Borough this weekend may even - if results go their way elsewhere on Saturday and in midweek - wrap things up ahead of the final day’s trip to Styalybridge Celtic, perhaps offering everyone a few less stressy days to try to convince Dennis Greene and Martyn Bunce to dress up as Captain Mainwaring and Private Pike as they come out of the tunnel at Bower Fold.

Of course, that’s easier said than done, but this Boston United side appear to thrive on pressure.

They love to taunt us, to make us think it’s game over, only to pop up with a late surge or a series of impressive results and put that belief truly back into the hearts of their fans.

When the going gets tough, this bunch get winning.

Facing a points-chasing Nuneaton side at home will be no simple task, but once again the Pilgrims look to be finding form at the right time.

After failing to keep a clean sheet for 11 matches they’ve now kept two consecutive shut-outs, unbeaten in their past four games where they’ve picked up 10 points from a possible 12.

Of course, this mini run means nothing unless it is built upon.

But this is a Boston squad which has all the weapons needed to win matches - full backs with dangerous deliveries from dead balls and throw-ins, centre backs who can find the net, midfielders with pace and creativity and the division’s deadliest goalscorer.

United have the personnel which could deliver those two wins to earn a play-off spot, and maybe even more.